Deadline: 8-Jun-21
The Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, Office of Assistance Coordination (NEA/AC), seeks applications for multiple awards to support American-style higher education programs in Iraq.
The objectives of these awards will be to build and increase the institutional capacity of institutions of higher education (IHE) in Iraq, and to enhance partnerships with U.S. and regional IHE for the purposes of research, exchange, and curriculum and pedagogic development, to include faculty exchanges.
American-style higher education plays an important role in influencing and educating the next generation of leaders in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), offering students an alternative vision to extremist ideologies, and encouraging economic growth through professional skills development.
The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, Office of Assistance Coordination (NEA/AC) offers Economic Support Fund (ESF) assistance to groups and individuals striving to bring about positive change in the Middle East-North Africa region. The Assistance Coordination Office works in 20 countries and territories, partnering with governments, civil society organizations (CSOs), community leaders, youth and women activists and private sector groups to advance their efforts. Competitively selected projects aim to foster participatory governance, economic reform, and educational advancement in response to local interest and needs.
Achievable Objectives
A successful project must include, but does not need to be limited to:
- Improvement in institutional capacity, as evidenced by:
- New and enhanced partnerships and linkages with U.S. and regional IHE that offer American-style curriculum;
- Increased student body recruitment, retention, and diversity, consistent with Iraq’s religious, ethnic, and geographic diversity;
- New and improved offerings to support student performance and post-graduate employment.
- Demonstrable progress toward accreditation by U.S. and Iraqi accrediting organizations
Funding Information
- Estimated Number of Awards: Up to Four (4)
- Estimated Total Program Funding: $10,000,000
- Estimated Award Ceiling: $5,000,000
- Estimated Award Floor: $500,000
- Estimated Length of Project Period: 12-24 Months
Project Activities
Project activities may include:
- Activities to improve institutional capacity and financial sustainability.
- Activities, which may include financial assistance, to recruit and retain students that are representative of Iraq’s diverse ethnic, geographic, and religious communities.
- Activities to work toward accreditation by U.S. and Iraqi accrediting bodies.
- Curricula and activities designed to expose students to a broad variety of perspectives and worldviews.
- Activities to enhance partnerships and linkages with U.S. and regional IHE, such as the development and sustainment of exchange programs, joint degree programs, faculty exchanges, and sharing of best practices.
- Program elements that supports the transition from academic to professional roles, possibly including, but not limited to, employment counseling and career development programs.
- Renovation to existing facilities or improvement to university infrastructure (to include IT) that enhances the institution’s ability to provide educational services.
- Third-party evaluations by credible organizations to help institutions improve the quality of curricula and programming, including modernizing areas of study to maintain currency with Western teaching methods and thinking.
Benefit
Students from different religious, ethnic, and geographic backgrounds, representing the diversity of Iraq’s population
Eligible Countries and Territories
In this announcement, they seek to support projects in Iraq. Successful applicants will use innovative and cost-effective approaches to meet the needs and opportunities of students in Iraq.
Eligibility Criteria
Eligible applicants include:
- Must be not-for-profit American-style, non-state Institution of Higher Education in Iraq
- Meet all of the registration requirements
- Meet any requirements listed as mandatory.
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=332919